Adaptive location branding

ABSTRACT

A method and system for providing location-specific information to users, wherein this information is directly maintained and supplied by the provider of the service. This information is supplied by means of an application running on a personal communication device, where the application is developed and provided by a third-party servicer (e.g., CollegeNET) and the third party servicer makes various program options/APIs of the application available to and selectable by its customers (e.g., various universities). This way, the organization wanting to supply the information, such as a university, does not have to develop their own unique applications to provide a unique user experience tied to the university, and the users don&#39;t have to download an application for each school they visit. Other embodiments of the invention are directed to an alternative method for changing the appearance and/or functionality of a location-aware application on a portable communication device. The method includes capturing or retrieving a digital image of a subject using a portable communications device; analyzing the digital image to determine a subject of the digital image; detecting a location associated with the digital image; and displaying information related to the subject of the digital image and the location associated with the digital image.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/876,297 filed on Jan. 22, 2018, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/949,477, filed onNov. 23, 2015, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference intothe present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable communications devices, and inparticular to wireless portable communication devices (e.g.,“Smartphones”, etc.) running applications having graphic displays.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of GPS systems for navigation is accepted and commonly used, nowalmost indispensable, especially for a person navigating unfamiliarplaces such as a new city, a college campus, etc. More recently,additional functions such as applications (“apps”) which will tell theuser where to find particular restaurants, or a gas station nearby, etc.have appeared. The information supplied as a result of these searches isnot served from databases tended or populated by the suppliers of thoseservices. Instead this third party information (e.g., gas prices,restaurant menu items, campus events) is controlled, compiled, andserved from databases managed by a third-party search provider, such asGoogle.

It may be preferable, for both the service provider and the end-user,that this information be provided instead from databases tended by theservice provider (i.e., the restaurant, theater, university, etc.) toensure that this information is current, complete, and reliable. Inaddition, third-party searches do not change the appearance and featuresbased on the detected location—i.e., a Google search result will notchange the display on a portable communications device to show theStanford colors and logo, and will not provide the detail of informationwhich Stanford might want to provide a visitor to the Stanford campus.

Thus it would be desirable to configure a location-aware app on aportable communications device that changes its appearance and featuresbased on a detected location.

It would be further desirable that the location can be detected by anyknown means such as GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile network, Bluetooth, NFC,geo-fencing with beacons, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a location-awareapplication on a portable communication device that changes itsappearance and features based on a detected location. The user may firstinstall the application on his portable communications device and theapplication may then present a different appearance based on thedetected location. The location can be detected by any known means suchas, but not limited to, GPS (including, but not limited to, GPS dataencoded in exchangeable image file format (Exif)), Wi-Fi, mobilenetwork, Bluetooth, NFC, an iBeacon, geo-fencing with locationalbeacons, computer-based image recognition, and the like. After thelocation is detected, location-specific information may go to usersthrough the application displaying this information on the displayscreen of the portable communication device, wherein this information isfrom databases controlled by the provider of the local service.

Other embodiments of the invention are directed to an alternative methodfor changing the appearance and/or functionality of a location-awareapplication on a portable communication device. The method includescapturing or retrieving a digital image of a subject using a portablecommunications device; analyzing the digital image to determine asubject of the digital image; detecting a location associated with thedigital image; and displaying information related to the subject of thedigital image and the location associated with the digital image.

Several exemplary applications of the application are presented, butmany other applications are possible within the scope of the inventionas will be clear from the descriptions of embodiments provided herein.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatthe conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readilyutilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures forcarrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should alsobe realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalentconstructions do not depart from the scope of the invention as set forthin the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more thorough understanding of the present invention, andadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the operation of a portablecommunications device comprising embodiments of the invention in severaluniversity environments;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the operation of a portablecommunications device comprising embodiments of the invention in alecture room locating situation;

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the operation of a portable communicationsdevice comprising embodiments of the invention illustrating variouspossible functions;

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of portable communications device 400suitable for storing and/or executing a computer program product inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the operation of a portable communicationsdevice comprising alternative embodiments of the invention illustratingvarious possible functions; and

FIGS. 6A-6E show an exemplary portable communications device 600 and anexemplary application 602 demonstrating an exemplary embodiment of theflowchart shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention provide for improved methods forproviding location-specific information to users, wherein thisinformation comes from databases tended by the provider of the service.In a preferred embodiment, the application is developed and provided bya third-party servicer (e.g., CollegeNET) and the third party servicermakes various program options/APIs of the application available to andselectable by its customers (e.g., various universities). This way, thevarious universities don't have to develop their own unique applications(and coax users into downloading them) to provide a unique userexperience tied to the university, and the users don't have to downloadan application for each school they visit.

In the following description, the term “location-defining device” asused herein applies to any one or more of the following types ofelectronic devices that provide location information: the globalpositioning system (GPS), local area wireless computer networks such asIEEE 802.11(Wi-Fi), mobile cellular network devices, Bluetooth devices,near-field communication (NFC) devices, an iBeacon® from Apple Computer,Inc., a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device, geo-fencing withlocational beacons, etc. The term “brand” or “branding information” asused herein refers to any information capable of indicating source,origin, affiliation, or sponsorship of goods or services including, butnot limited to, trademarks, service marks, logos, slogans, colors,mascots; banners, crests; seals, emblems, sounds, jingles, fight songs,anthems, and the like. The term “portable communication device” as usedherein refers to any signal processing device, data processing system,or computer system adapted for communication of data at least bywireless means and adapted for portability by the user, including, butnot limited to, cellular telephones, smartphones, tablet devices, laptopcomputers, personal digital assistants, and the like. Some portablecommunications devices are known to include integrated cameras capableof capturing digital images.

The following sections present illustrative examples of applications ofembodiments of the invention, however other applications fall within thescope of the invention as may be understood by those skilled in the art.

In a first example of possible applications of embodiments of theinvention, a user visits the Harvard campus as detected by proximity toa Harvard-encoded location-defining device, and the application'sappearance (i.e., the screen display, or graphic user interface) changesto Harvard branding (school colors, symbols, mascot, mottos, trademarks,background images, etc.) and presents a first set of options to the userthat Harvard wants to make available to the user. These options may bedetermined based on a status of the user (guest, faculty, staff,student, prospective student, parent, donor, etc.), wherein the statusmay be determined by sign-on credentials to the application. The userthen subsequently may visit the Yale campus as detected by proximity toa Yale-encoded location-defining device, and the appearance of the sameapplication changes to Yale branding and presents a second set ofoptions to the user that Yale wants to make available to the user—notethat the second set of options offered by Yale may differ from the firstset of options offered by Harvard.

A second example of possible applications of embodiments of theinvention could be a user visiting a convention hall with many exhibits.In response to being near a first vendor's exhibit (as may be detectedby proximity to a first Ikea-encoded location-defining device), theapplication's appearance changes to the vendor's branding and presentsoptions and/or promotional information to the user that the vendor wantsto make available to the user. For example, at an Ikea exhibit, theapplication may change to blue and yellow colored accents with an Ikealogo in the corner. Upon approaching a second exhibit, such as a CocaCola exhibit as detected by proximity to a second Coca-Cola-encodedlocation-defining device, the application may change to red and whitecolored accents with a Coca Cola logo in the corner. Functionality ofthe application can change based on the vendor's preferences (e.g.,promotional videos, discount offers, online order forms, downloadableproduct brochures/specifications, etc.). These options may be determinedbased on a status of the user (employee, attendee, customer, preferredcustomer, etc.), wherein the status may be determined by sign-oncredentials. The user then may approach a third vendor's exhibit asdetected by proximity to a third location-defining device, and theappearance of the same application changes to that vendor's branding andpresents options to the user that the new vendor wants to make availableto the user. A similar use case could be applied to any exhibit hall orenvironment, such as museums, zoos, nature preserves, art exhibits,historical sites or exhibits, trade shows, etc.

In yet another exemplary application, embodiments of the invention maybe used for the scheduling of meeting spaces. As an example, a user maybe visiting a campus building with multiple classrooms. The applicationdetects the user's proximity to the building by detecting a signal froma location-defining device and presents to the user schedules for thevarious classrooms in the building. At a more granular level, theapplication detects proximity to a particular classroom (e.g., bysensing a local location-defining device near the classroom entry point)and displays the schedule for that particular classroom. Schedulingoptions may be determined based on a status of the user (guest, faculty,staff, student), wherein the status may be determined by sign-oncredentials. For example, faculty may have “write” privileges toschedule time in the classroom, whereas students may only have “read”privileges to see the scheduled classes/events. The same use-case can beapplied to an office building with multiple conference/meeting rooms.

In another exemplary application, embodiments of the invention may beused to display location-based information relevant to the determinedlocation of a digital image. For example, a user can use an applicationon a personal communications device to take a digital image of alocation on his or her body, such as the knee. The application can usecomputer-based image recognition (e.g, deep learning for computervision, etc.) to determine that subject of the digital image is a bodypart and the relevant body part shown in the digital image is a knee.The application can then display information to the user that isrelevant to knees, such as instructive information related to commonknee injuries, specific knee injuries determined from the digital image,or products that promote knee health. To make image recognition easier,the user can select a portion of the image that is relevant to theuser's intended subject (e.g., using a finger on a touchscreen to drawan approximate boundary around the portion of the image relevant to theintended subject). The application can use location information todisplay contact information for medical professionals (physicians,physical therapists, etc.) within a specified distance of the detectedlocation who specialize in treating knees. The application can uselocation information to display contact information for stores within aspecified distance of the detected location that sell products relatedto knees. The detected location can be a location that is captured andrecorded by the application when the digital image is taken. Thedetected location can be a location determined from metadata recorded inthe digital image file. The detected location can be determined from anylocation-defining device.

The application can include branding information indicating that theapplication is a health care application. The application can change itsbranding information based on a selection made by the user. For example,if a user took a picture of his or her knee, the application can displaya list or menu of items related to knees. The user can navigate the listor menu and select a particular item, such as a knee brace. In responseto the user selecting the list item associated with a knee brace, theapplication can display a list of stores within a specified distance ofthe detected location that sell knee braces. In response to the userselecting a particular store that sells knee braces, the brandinginformation of the application can change display branding informationassociated with the selected store.

In another example, a user can use the application on the personalcommunications device to take a digital image of an automobile enginepart. The application can use computer-based image recognition (e.g,deep learning for computer vision, etc.) to determine that the subjectof the digital image is an automobile engine part and the relevantautomobile engine part shown in the digital image is an alternator. Theapplication can display information to the user that is relevant toalternators, such as descriptions of what the part does how the partworks and instructional videos for repairing or replacing the part. Tomake image recognition easier, the user can select a portion of theimage that is relevant to the user's intended subject (e.g., using afinger on a touchscreen to draw an approximate boundary around theportion of the image that is relevant to the intended subject). Theapplication can use location information to display contact informationfor automobile mechanics or repair shops within a specified distance ofthe detected location that specialize in diagnosing and repairingalternator problems. The application can use location information todisplay contact information for auto-part stores within a specifieddistance of the detected location that sell alternators. The detectedlocation can be a location that is captured and recorded by theapplication when the digital image is taken. The detected location canbe a location determined from metadata recorded in the digital imagefile. The detected location can be determined from any location-definingdevice.

The application can include branding information indicating that theapplication is an automotive repair and maintenance application. Theapplication can change its branding information based on a selectionmade by the user. For example, if a user took a picture of analternator, the application can display a list or menu of items relatedto alternators. The user can navigate the list or menu and select a menuitem for “Part Stores.” In response to the user selecting the list itemassociated with “Part Stores,” the application can display a list ofpart stores within a specified distance of the detected location thatsell alternators. In response to the user selecting a particular storethat sells alternators, the branding information of the application canchange display branding information associated with the selected store.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram 100 of the operation of an applicationaccording to embodiments of the invention in a portable communicationsdevice 102 according to embodiments of the invention operating inseveral university environments, similar to the first applicationdescribed briefly above. Location information from an exemplarylocation-defining device 120, such as GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile network,Bluetooth, NFC, an iBeacon, geo-fencing with locational beacons, etc. isdetected 118 by the an application according to embodiments of theinvention, running in portable communications device 102.

Location information can also be determined from digital images capturedby a camera of the portable communications device 102. Digital imagefiles are known to include metadata (e.g., geotags) that identify thelocation of the portable communications device at the time the digitalimage was captured. The metadata can be obtained from a GPS receiver inthe camera or the portable communications device and is recorded in thedigital image file. The metadata can be used as an indication of thelocation of the subject matter included in the digital image. Geotagsare included, for example, in the Exchangeable image file format (Exif)specification of the Japan Electronic Industries Development Association(JEIDA) that indicate the precise latitude and longitude of the camerawhen the digital image was captured.

Alternatively, computer-based image recognition of the digital imageitself can be used to determine location information. For example, deeplearning for computer vision can be used to determine that an imagetaken by the portable communications device is in a particular location.For example, computer vision can be used to determined that an imagetaken by the portable communications device is of a building located onthe campus of Stanford University. Based on the location determined fromthe image recognition of the digital image taken by the portablecommunications device, it can be determined that the portablecommunications device is located on the campus of Stanford University.

Once the approximate location of the personal communications device 102has been determined by location information provided bylocation-defining device 120, or by a digital image, and/or bylocational information obtained 116 from the GPS system 114, theapplication interrogates the web service operating in the cloud in asoftware-as-a-service mode to obtain information to be provided anddisplayed for the user according to pre-determined choices by thecontrolling institution (i.e., the organization which provided andprogrammed the location data on the location-defining device).

In the example 112, if portable communications device 102 senses that itis on the Stanford University campus from the GPS signal, theapplication 122 will change various attributes of the display on theportable communications device 102, such as the color (to StanfordUniversity color, cardinal red), logos, display options, etc. Similarly,if the portable communications device 102 detects a University of Oregon(U of O)-encoded location-defining device, the application 110determines that it is on the U of O campus, and may change 124 variousattributes of the display on the portable communications device 102,such as the colors (to U of O colors, green and yellow), logos, displayoptions, etc. Finally, in a third case where both a University of Kansas(KU)-encoded location-defining device and the GPS signal both indicatethat the portable communications device 102 is on the KU campus, theapplication may change 126 various attributes of the display on theportable communications device 102, such as the colors (to KU colors,crimson and blue), logos, display options, etc. As described in thefirst exemplary application above, the specific changes may depend onthe pre-defined status of the user of the portable communicationsdevice, for example depending on whether they are a guest, faculty,staff, student, prospective student, parent, donor, etc.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram 200 of the operation of an applicationaccording to embodiments of the invention in a portable communicationsdevice 206 in a lecture room 220 locating situation, similar to thethird application described briefly above. A locational signal from anexemplary location-defining device 204, such as an iBeacon as shownhere, is detected 208 by the application according to embodiments of theinvention, running in portable communications device 206. In thisparticular example, the locational information comprises a Majorcoordinate with the value “1000” (denoting the lecture room #101, 220)and a Minor coordinate with the value “0233” (denoting the particulardoor into lecture room #101—in cases where lecture room #101 may besubdivided by curtains or movable dividing walls, etc., the Minorcoordinates for lecture room #101 could denote specific smaller meetingspaces within lecture room 101, each entered through a separate door asshown. Once the approximate location of the device 206 has beendetermined, the application interrogates 212 the 25Live 210software-as-a-service (SaaS) through the API 214 linkage 216. The 25Livesystem then responds 218 by transmitting space data for lecture room 101to device 206. This space data may include the current assignment oflecture room (as entered through door 0233, in cases where lecture room101 has been subdivided into individual spaces each entered throughseparate doors). For example, if iBeacon 202 were interrogated, spacedata for lecture room #101 would also be provided by the 25Live system,but with possible differences relating to the (possible) roomsubdivision with separate allocations for the subdivided spaces. Incases where lecture room #131 is not subdivided, the space data providedfor both Major: 1000/Minor: 0233 and for major: 1000/Minor: 0234 couldbe the same.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart 300 of the operation of an applicationaccording to embodiments of the invention. In block 302, the user firstopens the application (“app”) on their portable communications device,such as 102 in FIG. 1 or 206 in FIG. 2. The app first determines if aGPS location 306 can be found for the portable communications device—ifyes, then there is no need to determine if a location-defining device(“sensor”) is nearby, and thus the app immediately branches to aninterrogation of the GPS/Sensor lookup service 312. The GPS/Sensorlookup service has pre-defined locational information for various sitesapplicable to the app, such as for example University campus coordinates(a multiplicity of perimeter coordinates for the campus which wouldtypically cover a large area), or coordinates for individual buildingson campus, or locational information for individual location-definingdevices on campus (since GPS may be unusable within internal buildingspaces), etc. If a GPS location cannot be found (typically due tointerference with the reception of signals from multiple GPSsatellites), then an effort is made to find a signal 308 from a localSensor (location-defining device). If such a signal cannot also befound, then the user may choose a location 310, possibly from apre-defined list of possible locations displayed on the portablecommunications device screen.

Thus the location may be set 314 for the application in one of threeways: 1) from a GPS signal, 2) from a local Sensor, or 3) directly(manually) by the user. Once the location has been set, blocks 316-322perform various functions based on the set location from block 314.Block 316 may change the screen display (“view”) to correspond to theset location—for example as in FIG. 1, to a Stanford University colorscheme and logo. Next block 318 may display various location-specificnotifications—for example, the time of the next Stanford home footballgame—this received information would then be displayed for the user inblock 320. In the case of a classroom or exhibit hall location, block322 might display the next few activities scheduled for that space andtheir times and availability (e.g., are all tickets sold out for thenext Stanford theater production which starts 2 hours from now?).

Following execution of the location-triggered actions in blocks 316-322,block 324 senses if the location has changed (e.g., the user may bewalking the halls of a classroom building, wherein block 308 isrepetitively reading locational information from sensors at eachclassroom door). Once a change in location is sensed in block 324,combination block 304 triggers block 306 and possibly block 308 to lookfor new GPS coordinates and possibly a new Sensor location and the cyclerepeats.

At least one embodiment of the present invention is directed to acomputer program product encoded in a non-transitory, computer-readablemedium. The computer program product comprises computer-executableinstructions that, when executed, causes one or more computer systems toperform embodiments of the present invention, such as, but not limitedto, the method shown in FIG. 3. Turning now to FIG. 4, a block diagramis shown of portable communications device 400 suitable for storingand/or executing a computer program product in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. Portable communications device 400is suitable for use as portable communication device 102 and 206.Portable communications device 400 includes a central processing unit402 having at least one microprocessor. Central processing unit 402 canbe coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through system bus412. The memory elements comprise non-transitory computer-readable mediacapable of storing computer-executable instructions. The memory elementscan include random access memory 406 employed during the actualexecution of the program code and non-volatile memory 410 for longerterm storage of data and instructions. One or more input devices 416 andoutput devices 418 can be coupled to system bus 412 either directly orthrough an intervening I/O controller 414. Examples of input device 416include, but are not limited to, a pointing device, such as a mouse or atrackpad, or a keyboard. Examples of output device 418 include, but arenot limited to, a display screen or a printer. In a preferredembodiment, input device 416 and output device 418 are combined into asingle device comprising a touchscreen comprising a display screen (fordisplaying information to the user of portable communication device 400)having a touch-sensitive surface (for receiving input from the user).Camera 419 can be coupled to system bus 412. Camera 419 can include alens and an imagine sensor. Camera 419 is capable of capturing andrecording digital images and/or videos and storing the digitalimages/videos to files in non-volatile memory 410. The digitalimage/video files can include metadata (e.g., geotags) that identify thelocation of portable communications device 400 at the time the digitalimage was captured. The metadata can be used as an indication of thelocation of the subject matter included in the digital image. Geotagsare included, for example, in the Exchangeable image file format (Exif)specification of the Japan Electronic Industries Development Association(JEIDA). Network adapters 422 may also be coupled to portablecommunications device 400 to enable the system to become coupled toremote computer system 426 or remote printers or storage devices throughintervening private or public networks 424. Modems, cable modems,Ethernet cards, and wireless network adapters are just a few of thecurrently available types of network adapters. In a preferredembodiment, portable communications device 400 includes one or morereceivers 430. Receiver 430 receives wireless signals via antenna 432.Receiver 430 is adapted for receiving location information from alocation-defining device 120 or GPS system 114. Receiver 430 cancomprise a transceiver capable of both transmitting and receivingwireless signals. While various component devices of portablecommunications device 400 are shown as separate devices in FIG. 4 forpurposes of demonstration, various component devices may be integratedinto a single device as is known in the art, such as in asystem-on-a-chip (SoC) device.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the operation of a portable communicationsdevice comprising alternative embodiments of the invention illustratingvarious possible functions. The process begins at step 502. At step 504,the portable communications device captures or retrieves a digital imageof a subject. The portable communications device can capture the digitalimage using a camera integrated into the portable communications device(e.g., a camera on a smartphone). Alternatively, the portablecommunications device can retrieve a previously recorded digital imageusing any known means for receiving digital files (e.g, reading fromnon-volatile memory, receiving by way of data transmission, etc.). Thesubject can be any object in the field of view of the camera or in thepreviously recorded digital image for which the user would like toreceive information. The information can include location-basedinformation associated with the subject.

FIGS. 6A-6E show an exemplary portable communications device 600 and anexemplary application 602 demonstrating an exemplary embodiment of theflowchart shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6A shows an exemplary embodiment of ahealth care related application 602 executing on portable communicationsdevice 600, the application showing an exemplary user interface of theprocess of FIG. 500 at step 504. Application 602 can include brandinginformation 608. Branding information 608 can comprise brandinginformation related to the developer or publisher of application 602.Application 602 can include a camera window 604 that displays a digitalimage obtained from a camera sensor of a digital camera integrated intoportable communications device 600 (e.g., the camera on a smartphonedevice). Application 602 can include virtual camera shutter releasebutton 606 that enables the user to capture the digital image shown incamera window 604, for example, by touching a touchscreen display ofportable communications device 600 in the area where virtual camerashutter release button 606 is shown on the touchscreen display.

At step 506, the application analyzes the digital image to determine thesubject 610 of the digital image. For example, the application can useimage recognition (e.g, deep learning for computer vision, etc.) todetermine subject of the digital image. If the application needsassistance determining the subject 610 of the digital image then, atstep 508, the application can prompt the user for input to assist indetermining the intended subject 610. For example, the application canprompt the user to select from several subject choices determined by theapplication or the application can prompt the user to select a portionof the displayed image to narrow the possible range of subjects. At step510, the input received from the user can be saved in training database510 to assist with future subject determinations using machine learningtechniques. Steps 506, 508, and 510 can repeat recursively until theuser's intended subject 610 is properly identified. If the applicationdoes not need assistance determining the subject 610 of the digitalimage, then the process can proceed to step 512 without requesting userin put at step 508.

FIG. 6B shows an exemplary user interface of application 602 at steps506 and 508. Application 602 can include image window 604 that displaysthe digital image under analysis to the user. In this example,application 602 needs assistance determining the subject 610 of thedigital image. Application 602 prompts the user for input to assist indetermining the intended subject 610. Application 602 prompts the userto select from several subject choices 612 a-c determined by theapplication to be appropriate for the image shown in image window 604.In this example, application 602 determines that the subject 610 of theimage in image window 604 is likely a knee, thigh, or calf and promptsthe user to select user interface element 612 a if the intended subjectis a knee, user interface elements 612 b if the intended subject is athigh, or user interface element 612 c if the intended subject is acalf. In case none of these choices fits the intended subject, theapplication can also prompt the user to select a portion of thedisplayed image to narrow the possible range of subjects. The user canselect a portion of the image that is relevant to the user's inquiry(e.g., using a finger on a touchscreen to draw an approximate boundaryaround the portion of the image relevant to the intended subject).

At step 512, the application detects a location associated with thedigital image using a location-defining device. The location associatedwith the subject can be determined by application 602 by obtaining GPSor other location data available from portable communications device600. The location associated with the subject can also be determinedfrom metadata (e.g., geotags) encoded in or associated with the digitalimage that identify the location of the portable communications devicewhen the digital image was captured. The metadata can be used as anindication of the location of the subject matter included in the digitalimage. Geotags are included, for example, in the Exchangeable image fileformat (Exif) specification of the Japan Electronic IndustriesDevelopment Association (JEIDA).

At step 514, the application displays information related to thedetermined subject and the detected location. FIG. 6C shows an exemplaryuser interface of application 602 at step 514. Application 602 caninclude subject identifier 620 that displays an indication of thesubject of the digital image to the user. User interface elements 622a-d enable to the user to access instructive or other informationrelated to identified subject of the digital image. In this example, theidentified subject 610 is a knee. User interface element 622 a can beselected by the user to access instructive or other information relatedto knees. User interface element 622 b can be selected by the user toaccess shopping information for knee-related products in proximity tothe detected location. User interface element 622 c can be selected bythe user to access information for common knee-related injuries. Userinterface element 622 d can be selected by the user to access contactinformation for health care providers who specialize in treating knees,and who are in proximity to the detected location.

In the present example, the user can select user interface element 622 dto access a list of health care providers who specialize in treatingknees and their proximity to the detected location. Application 602 candisplay the exemplary user interface shown in FIG. 6D. The exemplaryuser interface in FIG. 6D shows a list of health care providers whospecialize in treating knees and their proximity to the detectedlocation. User interface elements 624 a-d can include a name for eachhealth care provider and an indication of proximity of the health careprovider to the detected location. The user can select any of userinterface elements 624 a-d to obtain more information about the healthcare provider, including contact information.

The exemplary user interface in FIG. 6E shows detailed information forthe health care provider selected by using user interface elements 624a-d. In the present example, the selected health care provider is Dr.Susan Jones, M.D. Application 602 can display contact information 630relating to Dr. Jones. Application 602 can adapt branding information608 to show branding information relating the Dr. Jones' practice group(e.g., “Springfield Orthopedics”). Application 602 can display map 632showing the location of Dr. Jones' office. Application 602 can includeuser interface element 634 that, when selected by the user, causesportable communications device 600 to place a call to the phone numberassociated with Dr. Jones. Application 602 can include user interfaceelement 636 that, when selected by the user, causes portablecommunications device 600 to open a mapping/navigation application(e.g., Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, Here We Go, etc.) to assist theuser with directions to Dr. Jones' office. The process stops at step516.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of thepresent application is not intended to be limited to the particularembodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter,means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one ofordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure ofthe present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions ofmatter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to bedeveloped that perform substantially the same function or achievesubstantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments describedherein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly,the appended claims are intended to include within their scope suchprocesses, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means,methods, or steps.

We claim as follows:
 1. A method for changing the appearance and/orfunctionality of a location-aware application on a portablecommunication device based on a detected location, the method comprisingthe steps of: detecting the location of the portable communicationsdevice based on location information received from a location-definingdevice or a digital image; interrogating a web-based service forinformation pertaining to an organization to be provided to the user,the information corresponding to the organization at detected locationand from a database populated by the organization; receiving theinformation from the web-based service to be provided to the user; anddisplaying the information to be provided to the user on the displayscreen of the portable communication device such that the informationincludes branding information associated with the organization.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the location-defining device comprises amultiplicity of GPS satellites.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thelocation-defining device comprises a Wi-Fi local network.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the location-defining device comprises a near-fieldcommunication (NFC) device.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thelocation-defining device comprises an iBeacon.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the location-defining device comprises geo-fencing withlocational beacons.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein thelocation-defining device comprises a Bluetooth device.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the location-defining device comprises aradio-frequency identification (RFID) device.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the location-defining device comprises a mobile cellular networkdevice.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the information to beprovided to the user comprises location-specific notifications; andwherein the information displayed to the user comprises thelocation-specific notifications.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein theinformation to be provided to the user comprises scheduling options; andwherein the information displayed to the user comprises the schedulingoptions.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein if there is a change in thedetected location from the location-defining device, then the steps ofinterrogating, receiving and displaying are repeated.
 13. The method ofclaim 1, wherein after a pre-determined period of time has elapsed, thenthe steps of interrogating, receiving and displaying are repeated. 14.The method of claim 2, wherein the first location-definition devicesinterrogated for the location of the portable communication device arethe GPS satellites.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein thelocation-specific branding information comprises changes tocharacteristics of the screen display on the portable communicationdevice such as school colors, school logos, etc.
 16. The method of claim7, wherein the location-specific notifications comprise informationabout upcoming events scheduled for the detected location
 17. The methodof claim 8, wherein the scheduling options comprise class assignmentsfor the detected location.
 18. A portable communications devicecomprising: a computer processor coupled to a bus; a receiver coupled tothe bus, the receiver adapted for receiving location information from alocation-defining device; a display screen coupled to the bus, thedisplay screen adapted for displaying the information to the user of theportable communication device; and a non-transitory, computer-readablemedium coupled to the bus, the computer-readable medium encoded withcomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computerprocessor, cause the device to perform the method of claim
 1. 19. Anon-transitory, computer-readable medium encoded withcomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computerprocessor of a portable communications device, cause the portablecommunications device to perform the method of claim
 1. 20. The methodof claim 1, wherein the location information is received from a digitalimage and the location information comprises metadata associated withthe digital image.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the metadataassociated with the digital image includes GPS coordinates.
 22. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the location information is received from adigital image and the location information is determined usingcomputer-based image recognition of the digital image.
 23. A method forchanging the appearance and/or functionality of a location-awareapplication on a portable communication device, the method comprisingthe steps of: capturing or retrieving a digital image of a subject usinga portable communications device; analyzing the digital image todetermine a subject of the digital image; detecting a locationassociated with the digital image; and displaying information related tothe subject of the digital image and the location associated with thedigital image.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein analyzing the digitalimage to determine a subject of the digital image further comprisesusing computer-based image recognition to determine the subject of thedigital image.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein computer-based imagerecognition further comprises deep learning for computer vision.
 26. Themethod of claim 23, wherein detecting a location associated with thedigital image further comprises detecting the location associated withthe digital image based on metadata associated with the digital image.27. The method of claim 26, wherein the metadata associated with thedigital image includes GPS coordinates.
 28. The method of claim 23,wherein detecting a location associated with the digital image furthercomprises using computer-based image recognition of the digital image.29. The method of claim 28, wherein computer-based image recognitionfurther comprises deep learning for computer vision.